A sign welcoming home Amanda Knox at the Easy Street record store in the Seattle neighbourhood where she grew up. Photograph: Stephen Brashear/AFP/Getty

1am BST: Amanda Knox is en route to her home in Seattle following her acquittal on appeal of the murder of Meredith Kercher. Knox and her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were both freed following the verdict in Italy on Monday evening amid dramatic courtroom scenes. Knox, 24, left Perugia's Capanne prison on Monday night and flew from Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport to London on Tuesday morning, where she took a direct British Airways flight to Seattle, flying business class.

It is understood Knox will land in Seattle imminently. A spokesman for the Knox family has told various media outlets that the family will hold a news conference at Seattle airport at which Amanda may speak.

Meredith Kercher's family gave a press conference earlier on Tuesday in which they said they "accept the decision and respect the court" but are "left wondering" who did kill Meredith along with Rudy Guede: "For us it feels like we are back to square one."

1.09am BST:Television footage is showing the British Airways flight that Amanda Knox is travelling on landing in Seattle. After four years in an Italian jail she has arrived back in the US.

1.32am BST: Amanda Knox has walked into the room where the press conference is to start. Huge cheers have gone up welcoming her home.

She is introduced by a speaker who tells the crowd that it is "a very joyous occasion for us today." Amanda's parents are to speak, he says, confirming Amanda will make a statement but will not take questions.

1.33am BST: Theodore Simon, a Philadelphia lawyer, is at the microphone calling the situation a "trying and gruelling four-year nightmarish marathon that no parent or child should have to endure''.

He says the family have demonstrated "unquestioned and unparalleled patience". They have relied upon their faith he said, that "this unjust conviction would not stand".

He says they want a thorough inquiry into the facts. "Amanda Knox was wrongly convicted and she was not, absolutely not responsible for the tragic loss of Meredith Kercher."

1.36am BST: Knox, who looks to be weeping, is holding her mother's hand as her parents stand up to the podium to speak.

"We couldn't have made it through without all of you who have supported us, and especially Amanda."

Her mother Edda Mellas also thanks supporters and mentions the letters and the calls they have received from all over the world.

Amanda Knox addresses a news conference at Seattle airport after arriving home from Italy where she has been acquitted of murdering Meredith Kercher. Photograph: Elaine Thompson/AP

1.39am BST: Amanda has stood up to speak, saying she is reminded to use English which she has been having problems with. Visibly upset and her voice shaking she says:

I am really overwhelmed right now. I was looking down from the airplane and it seemed like everything wasn't real. What's important for me to say is just thank you to everyone who has believed in me, who has defended me, who has supported my family. My family is the most important thing to me right now and I just want to go and be with them, so thank you for being there for me.

Appearing overwhelmed, she sits back down next to her mother again, being consoled by her sister.

2.00am BST: The Knox family are now travelling to their home in west Seattle following the brief but emotional press conference which they seemed to want to use mainly to express their thanks to supporters.

A little more information from Theodore Simon now which couldn't be heard on camera earlier. He said that Knox and her family had "persevered in unusual grace and under extremely difficult circumstances".

He added there were "profoundly absent" facts in the case against the 24-year-old and that the jury's decision to release her was "bold and courageous".

This decision unmistakably announces to the world that Amanda Knox was wrongly convicted and that she was absolutely not responsible for the tragic loss of Meredith Kercher.

Let us not forget that Meredith was Amanda's friend and I know that Amanda and the family want us to remember Meredith and to keep the Kercher family in our prayers.

2.14am BST: Curt Knox is now speaking to local reporters outside the family home in Seattle. He says the situation is "extremely surreal".

"We feel like we are just normal people in the neighbourhood and then this happens."

He is also referring to the difficulties of not speaking Italian during the legal process.

2.31am BST: Earlier today Knox's grandmother Elisabeth Huff spoke to reporters outside her home saying of Knox's acquittal: "It was like the weight of the world had gone."

"We all are as happy as can be. I can't tell you how long we've been looking forward to this day."

Amanda's uncle Michael Huff added: "We've spent a lot of time waiting. We're planning a big hug. We'll see day to day how it goes. She's going to have to get acclimated. She's a strong kid."

2.36am BST: In the neighbourhood where Amanda Knox grew up residents have been preparing banners for her arrival.

"WELCOME HOME AMANDA," said one at the local record store, another welcome sign was hung at her father's house.

2.37am BST: While there is much joy Seattle as Knox arrives, in Italy Prosecutor Giuliano Mignini has said he will appeal to Italy's highest criminal court after receiving the reasoning behind the acquittals, due within 90 days.

"Let's wait and we will see who was right. The first court or the appeal court," Mignini said. "This trial was done under unacceptable media pressure."

2.49am BST: Anne Bremner, a Seattle defence attorney and spokeswoman for Friends of Amanda Knox, has said that, according to her family, Knox was looking forward to being outside in the grass, playing soccer, seeing old friends and having a backyard barbeque.

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3.18am BST: Here's that brief but very emotional clip in which Amanda Knox tells of her disbelief at being free and thanks all her supporters, before stating her immediate priority is to be with her family.

3.18am BST: It is understood that Knox and her family were seated on the upper deck of the plane to protect them from the media, according to reporters on board.

Apparently at least nine members of various news organisations were on board below, but were blocked them from climbing the stairs "to preserve the privacy" of passengers.

The flight crew told reporters that once the plane landed they would have to remain seated while customs officials escorted Knox and her entourage out of the plane.

Knox and her family were then taken by shuttle van to go through customs, which meant reporters still on board the plane actually missed the press conference.